Looking for ways to add more flavor without all the salt? Look no further than one of our favorite sauces, pesto! This homemade version is low in sodium, dairy free, and couldn’t be easier to make!
Homemade pesto, a delightful low sodium and low potassium sauce for CKD!
If you are a fan of Italian food (and who isn’t, right?), you might be familiar with pesto, the famous sauce that originates from Genoa, Italy. Traditional pesto is made using fresh basil, garlic, parmesan cheese, good quality olive oil, and pine nuts. However, there are lots of variations of pesto that feature different herbs, nuts, or additional flavors. For example, our recipe swaps walnuts for pine nuts and nutritional yeast for parmesan cheese to make this recipe fully plant-based.
Homemade pesto is naturally low in sodium and potassium which makes it a great alternative to marinara sauce for people with CKD. Pesto is also very easy to make, just throw all of the ingredients into a food processor or blender, turn it on and bam! Delicious pesto ready to go in mere minutes. If you don’t own a food processor or blender, store-bought pesto is a fine substitution but is typically higher in sodium.
Need another reason to whip up a batch of homemade pesto?
Pesto is incredibly versatile! You can toss it with pasta, stir it into soups, or spread it on a sandwich. We also love mixing it into unsweetened coconut yogurt, sour cream, or mayo to use as a dip for raw vegetables or crackers. It compliments our Roasted Red Pepper kidney friendly soup beautifully, and also pairs perfectly with our Summer Vegetable Panini.
Want to learn more about delicious nourishing foods that support kidney health?
We are here to help! To find out how we use the power of nutrition to preserve kidney function, join ourfree monthly class. Prefer a one-to-one setting? Considerscheduling a consultationwith one of our expert Renal Dietitians.
Low Sodium Homemade Pesto
Why buy store bought pesto when you can whip up a batch at home in just a matter of minutes? This low sodium version is dairy free, full of heart healthy fats, and pairs perfectly with a variety of recipes!
Recipe developed by Clarissa Paimanta, RD and tested by Jennifer Krasilovsky, KidneyRD Intern 2021
Course: Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Keto, Low Carb, Low Phosphorus, Low Potassium, Low Protein, Low Sodium, Plant-Based
Diet Type: CKD, Dialysis, VLPD
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 141kcal
Author: Clarissa Paimanta, RD
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves packed
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon salt to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper to taste
- Optional: 1-2 tbsp nutritional yeast to taste
Instructions
Add all ingredients into the blender. Blend on high speed until desired smoothness. Adjust seasonings to taste, adding nutritional yeast for a cheesier flavor.
Pour pesto into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 30 days.
Variations:
Herbs: Feel free to mix things up by replacing a portion of the basil with parsley, chives, spinach, or even kale.
Nuts: Walnuts are lower in potassium but may be slightly bitter. Use pine nuts for a more traditional pesto, cashews for a milder flavor, or any of your favorite nuts or seeds.
Fats: Add 1/2 avocado to replace half of the olive oil
Nutrition
Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Sodium: 98mg | Potassium: 45mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 318IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @KNI_Care or tag #KNIrecipes!
KidneyRD Verdict
During the summer, pesto is one of my all time favorite recipes to make. The combination of fresh basil, garlic, and delicious olive oil pairs perfectly with pasta, veggies, or just about anything! I made this recipe with and without the nutritional yeast and loved both versions. Replacing pine nuts for walnuts did add a slightly more bitter flavor compared to pine nuts but was hardly noticeable when married with the flavor of fresh garlic and basil. The beauty of this recipe is that you can customize it any way you choose!
ALL information you read onKidneyRD.com is purely for informational and educational purposes. Information is not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease.
